70 years of Italy-India diplomatic relations
Various events will be held across cities as a celebration of the bonds of friendship between the two countries
The Embassy of India in Rome will be commemorating 70 years of India-Italy diplomatic relations by organizing a series of events, beginning March 2018.
'1948-2018: Celebrating the Future' is a befitting phrase that encapsulates the bonds of friendship between the two peoples as well as strong ties between the two countries. Various cultural programmes, exhibitions, commercial events and seminars will be held across cities in Italy as a celebration of the past and a promise for the future.
An outdoor tourism promotion campaign has already been launched by the India Tourism Office in the historic cities of Rome and Naples. City buses and over 100 billboards in Rome and Naples are showcasing different aspects of the personality of India that it offers to each traveler to the country.
Under the aegis of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, two concerts by the acclaimed Sarod Maestro Partha Sarathi Chowdhury are being organized in Rome and Genoa, on 13 and 15 March respectively. The concerts are being arranged by the Embassy in association with FIND (India-Europe Foundation for New Dialogues) in Rome and CELSO (Istituto di Studi Orientali) in Genoa at prestigious venues. The performances will be free and open to the public.
Another musical event by the well-known composer Giuliana Soscia will be held at Auditorium Parco della Musica on 19 March. Organized by ISMEO (Associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l'Oriente), the performance is the outcome of 'Giuliana Soscia Indo-Jazz Project' conceptualized by her on this special occasion of 70 years of India-Italy diplomatic relations.
A short, 2-day, cultural festival depicting India-Italy Sangam: a confluence of art-forms and artists of both India and Italy is being scheduled on 23 and 24 March, 2018. The festival will be an ensemble of various forms of Indian performing traditions and their encounters with Italy. Italian artists with an Indian heart and Indians artists who have made Italy their second home will perform for two days, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the India-Italy Diplomatic Relations, on March 25.
The event on Friday, 23rd March will be devoted to dance: more than 10 artists will join together in offering a bouquet of the celebrated forms of Indian performing arts. From the classical Odissi from the state of Odisha, we will move to the rhytms of Kathak from Uttar Pradesh and its surprising blending with Flamenco, the vibrant and energetic Bhangra from Punjab, one of the most popular folk dance of North India will set up an introduction to the contemporary Bollywood collection, culminating in an embrace with Italian musical folk traditions. On Saturday, 24 March, India and Italy will meet on the path of traditional music. Three artists and three musical instruments: the beat of the Tabla, the chords of the Sitar and the soft vibrations of Bansuri.
This cultural confluence of India and Italy will continue to be the leitmotif of the clebrations throughout the year. A publication containing compilation of some rare and valuable photos/text and selected travelogues of writers who visited India and the surrounding region between 13th and 16th century, collated by specialists from manuscripts and printed heritages available in the ancient collection of the renowned Biblioteca Angelica will be held in May in Rome.
The centrepiece of the 70th anniversary celebrations would be a grand dance & music performance at Teatro Argentina in the first half of June followed by the impressive Yoga Day celebrations all over the country.